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Department of CS newsletter
Published: Thursday, 20 October 2022Weekly newsletter for the Department of CS
Department Newsletter - Contents
[ top ]News from Head of Department
First Departmental Leadership Team meeting of this academic year
We held our first Departmental Leadership Team meeting of this academic year on October 5th. The focus was on the PGT review that Norman has been leading (thank you Norman). We made a number of decisions informed by this work and by the contributions many of you made at the various PGT discussion meetings last month. Many thanks for feeding into those and for putting forward programme proposals. There are really exciting PGT developments in the pipeline. More details can be found in Norman's recent message from October 6th on the COMPSCI-ACSTAFF list.
In terms of UG numbers, I'm happy to report that things are now more in line with what we've been hoping for with a total of 340 1st years as of October 18th. This total is made up of 190 UK, and 150 overseas students.
Also, I received an email from the BCS President thanking Steve Pettifer for all the great work he's been doing on the BCS Accreditation of Computer Science Degrees and to the subsequent implementation project. The project has made significant progress on the implementation of the Engineering Council’s latest CEng standard (AHEP4) and the engagement of a new team in BCS focused on universities. Steve has been instrumental in achieving this progress through sharing his insights, his significant contribution to the content, and by helping to shape the project to match University needs and expectations. Thank you for doing this, Steve.
Finally, it was great to chat to so many of you at the coffee morning the other week - see you at the next one.
Andrew
Ruth Maddocks
Winner of the Kilburn Window Design Competition
WINNER OF THE KILBURN WINDOW DESIGN COMPETITION. Last week, Phoebe Pinney (Year 3, CS) received a prize for her winning design in the Oxford Road Window Competition. Our new Head of Department, Andrew Stewart, congratulated Phoebe and handed her the winner's certificate and book token. The plan is to have Phoebe’s artwork immortalised on the large window looking out onto Oxford Road (top right hand side of Kilburn looking from Oxford Road).Files:
- CompWinner.JPG (62.56 KB)
[ top ]News and announcements
Next Departmental coffee morning - 24th November @1030
Date for your diary:
Dept Coffee morning - Thursday 24th November @1030
We are fundraising for The Mustard Tree - Manchester (Mustard Tree | Combatting Poverty - Preventing Homelessness), and we’d really appreciate your support.
You can donate to my JustGiving page by clicking here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/computerscience-kilburn?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=computerscience-kilburn&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=ad11a4e471d74d169ca6c992fa5718a2.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to The Mustard Tree, so it's the most efficient way to give - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Congratulations to Danny Dresner - Best Educator Award Win!
The seventh annual Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards winners were announced last night during a celebration at Balfour St Bart’s in London. The annual awards celebrate the people, not products, of the cyber security industry. From the best ethical hackers, rising stars and educators to the best security awareness campaign, security team and the coveted Godparent of security, the categories recognised individuals and teams working hard to protect Britain from cybercrime and raise awareness of security issues. This year also saw two new categories added to recognise those leading the way in diversity and wellbeing in cybersecurity.
Seònaid Lafferty was nominated in the Rising Star category, and Danny Dresner was nominated in two categories - Best Educator and Godfather/Godmother of Cyber Security.
Many congratulations to Danny who won the award for Best Educator! More Information: Unsung Heroes - IT Security Guru
Download the Key Travel Mobile App!
Key Travel have a mobile app which you can download to your phone - this will give you live updates:
ADD. MANAGE. SHARE. The newly updated Key Travel app is a simple and convenient way for frequent travellers to stay on top of trips whilst on the move. View and manage all trip elements in one place, from itineraries, flight and hotel bookings – making it the essential travel app!
Date for your diary - Departmental Christmas Do - 15th December
The FSE contribution to Christmas parties will be used for our Christmas Department Bash this year - we haven't had one for a couple of years so it will be great to be able to have one this year. A festive quiz with pizza and a beer has always gone down well - so we will run with the same format. If you are interested in helping with the quiz then please let Ruth know!
Date: Thursday 15th December
Details: TBC
If research groups would like to organise their own Christmas lunches etc - then these should be funded by the groups/individuals.
[ top ]Events
Come and celebrate with us at the Sustainable Futures Celebration Showcase!
Come and celebrate with us at the Sustainable Futures Celebration Showcase!
28 Nov | Virtual
This event celebrates one year since Sustainable Futures at The University of Manchester externally launched, and will bring together researchers from across the University and key external stakeholders to discuss current innovative and impactful sustainability activity.
What to expect:
- Updates from our 6 Challenge Areas by our Challenge Leads
- Lightening style presentations by UoM researchers
- Networking session in virtual break out rooms
Register for free here: https://bit.ly/3g0MpsR
If you have any questions regarding the event or if you are interested in showcasing your research at a Sustainable Futures event in 2023 then please contact lauren.mullan@manchester.ac.uk.
Sustainable Futures Seminar Series - Apply to take part
Since the start of the year, we have hosted monthly events as part of the Sustainable Futures Seminar Series. Collectively these events had over 900 registrants, including UoM academics, representatives from industry/public sector including local and national SMEs, strategic industrial partners, third sector organisations, HEIs, local colleges and international partners.
Due to the success of these seminars, we will continue hosting these throughout 2023 with one seminar per month consisting of two 20-minute presentations from UoM academics. These sessions give UoM researchers the opportunity to showcase their research to a broad internal and external audience.
If you would like to be considered as a speaker for one of these seminars, we ask that you provide us with a 150 word abstract of your envisioned presentation before 5pm on Friday 4th November. Once we have confirmed the initial set of speakers, we will be in touch to confirm dates/times for the seminars.
Please send your abstracts to sustainablefutures@manchester.ac.uk.
Sustainable Futures Seminar Series | Dr Raphael Tarpani & Zoé Schyns - 20th Oct
Secure your complimentary place now!
Sustainable Futures Seminar Series | Dr Raphael Tarpani & Zoé Schyns
Date and time: 20th October 2022, 14:00-15:00
This Sustainable Futures Seminar will bring together researchers from across The University of Manchester and key external stakeholders to discuss sustainability activity at UoM. We invite internal and external delegates to attend this event consisting of two 15-minute presentations, each followed by an interactive Q&A.
Talk title: Recycled Plastic Content Determination Through Aggregation – Induced Emission
Speaker: Zoé Schyns, PhD Student at The University of Manchester
Talk title: Assessing the environmental impacts and circularity of digital services for health and wellbeing
Speaker: Dr Raphael Tarpani, Research Associate at The University of Manchester
Register here: https://bit.ly/3CgU0Lg
Final two Sustainable Futures Seminars - BOOK NOW
Bookings for the final two Sustainable Futures Seminars Series events of the year are open. Over the next few months, we’ll host three events with the following guest speakers:
Thursday 20th October| 14:00 to 15:10
Book TodayRecycled Plastic Content Determination Through Aggregation – Induced Emission Community Climate Resilience in Manchester
Zoé Schyns, PhD Student at The University of Manchester
Assessing the Environmental Impacts and Circularity of Digital Services for Health and Wellbeing
Dr Raphael Tarpani, Research Associate at The University of Manchester
Thursday 17th November | 14:00 to 15:00
Book TodayBusiness Models for Sustainable Energy
Professor Jonatan Pinkse, Professor of Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at and Executive Director of the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research at The University of Manchester
The Dangers and Distractions of Net Zero Carbon
Dr Joe Blakey, Lecturer in Human Geography at The University of Manchester
If you have any questions regarding these events or if you are interested in showcasing your own research at a Sustainable Futures Seminar in 2023 then please contact Lauren.Mullan@manchester.ac.uk
MCRC, EPSRC Sandpit: Technological innovation for understanding cancers of unmet need
Deadline for registrations: 08-Nov-2022
Event: 18-19-Jan-2022https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/technological-innovation-for-understanding-cancers-of-unmet-need/
Apply to attend a two-day sandpit workshop on 18 and 19 January 2023, to develop research applications for technological innovations for understanding of cancers of unmet need. Applications from eligible researchers, within a wide range of science disciplines, such as medical, data, engineering and physical sciences, are welcomed.
Maximum award: £500k for up to 3 yearsSarah Chatwin
[ top ]Research News
Looking to recruit research staff?
If you are looking to recruit staff as part of a funded research project please contact the Research Support Team.
Advertising posts:
We can help you complete PCM forms to advertise posts and we will check funding is available with our Research Finance Colleagues, then liaise with HR Services on your behalf.
Recruiting staff:
We can help you complete the NAF forms and liaise with HR Services on your behalf so that contracts are sent out to your successful candidate/s.
Research Support Manager: sarah.chatwin@manchester.ac.uk
Research Support Officers: natalia.stefanovic@manchester.ac.uk; chantel.murtagh@manchester.ac.uk; sarah.watson@manchester.ac.uk
[ top ]Research Funding Opportunities
CEII Call for Feasibility Study Proposals
Question and Answer session (online): 12 October 2022
Deadline for submissions: 09 November 2022As CEII is funded by EPSRC, our focus is on fundamental ideas that have potential to be developed into future applications or concepts that can be implemented within Digital Manufacturing. Therefore, proposals should address challenges at low Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs 1-3) and be aligned with at least one of the thematic areas.
Selection Criteria
Applicants should consider that the following criteria will be used by the review panel when assessing the proposal:- Multidisciplinary and clear demonstration of “discipline-bridging” through activity;
- Involvement of industry stakeholders;
- Involvement of early career researchers;
- Potential for development of future funding applications from EPSRC (e.g. responsive mode), Innovate UK or other funding streams;
- Demonstration of transfer of concepts from other domains to manufacturing;
- Potential to lead to strong dissemination materials;
- Paths to accelerate impact of research to ensure rapid transfer to industry.
All feasibility studies start by Jan23 and must be completed by October 2023
EPSRC actively seeking researchers from all HEIs to engage with our Future Comms Systems call
Intent to submit deadline: 01-Nov-2022
We are working closely with government on investment in future communications systems research and are aware that significant further funding may become available in the future. We are actively seeking out researchers who operate in the cloud and distributed computing in a comms setting to engage early with this opportunity so that broad and multi-institutional collaborations can be developed. As successful proposals will need to be linked up across research communities and the UK, we have set up a partnerships portal and webinar to relevant researchers.
Early career researcher international collaboration grants
Webinar: 16-Nov-2022 10:00
Intention to submit deadline: 07-Dec-2022https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/early-career-researcher-international-collaboration-grants/
Apply for up to £200k for up to 2 yrs to initiate or develop new international partnerships with researchers overseas.
You must be an early career researcher who meets the eligibility requirements of the EPSRC New Investigator Award scheme
There are 2 parallel funding routes to this funding opportunity:
- open funding route
- international development funding route
JSPS London Summer Programme Call for 2023
Closing Date: 28-Nov-2022
https://www.jsps.org/latest_calls/2022/10/jsps-london-summer-programme-call-2023.html
The JSPS Summer Programme Fellowship offers the opportunity for pre/postdoctoral researchers to receive an orientation on Japanese language and culture and research systems as well as pursue research under the guidance of host researchers at Japanese universities and research institutes over a period of two months during the summer (from 12 June through to 19 August 2023).
Applicants should be a British national and at the time the Summer Programme goes into effect either be enrolled in a PhD course at a UK university or have obtained their PhD within the last 6 years (on or after 2 April 2017).
[ top ]Health and Safety
Keeping Safe on Campus - Safezone app available
* KEEPING SAFE ON CAMPUS. You can find information here about how to keep safe on campus, including getting to know the Campus Support and Security team (the new name for the University Security team) and the Safezone app, which you can use to contact the Campus Support and Security in an emergency when on campus (more below).
* SAFEZONE. Safezone is our mobile app designed to provide you with enhanced security and assistance whilst studying or living on campus. The app is free to download and easy to use. You can use it to:
- 'Check in' any time of day – tell us where you are on campus 24/7
- Quickly and discreetly call for assistance – whether it’s for first aid or in an emergency
- Keep up to date – notifications sent directly to your phone if there is an incident on campus
Further information about Safezone and how to register can be found online here.
